The word "acrid" comes from the Latin word ācer, which means "sharp," "pungent," "bitter," or "fierce". The Latin root was likely influenced by the similar-sounding Latin word "acidus" and the English word "acid". The English word "acrid" was probably shaped by this influence, and the suffix "-id" was added to model it after "acid".  The root ācer is also the source of words like "acerbic," "acrimony," and "acumen". 

According to the Oxford English Distionary (OED), the first use of "acrid" in English was in 1633.  The earliest recorded use of the adjective "acrid" is a quote from a 1633 edition of "Gerard's Herball", translated by T. Johnson: "The wilde Leeke hath leaues much like vnto those of Crow-garlicke, but larger, and more acride". 

Examples of "acrid" used in a sentence: 
"The air filled with the acrid smell of blood and tart wine." 
"The gray acrid smoke of the powder lingered over the rock."
"Miles away from the fires, the smoke still left an acrid taste in my mouth."
"Traffic was snarled, and whiffs of acrid air stung the eyes." 
"Even twenty yards from the room, she could still smell the acrid green smoke." 
"It has a warm energy with bitter and acrid or pungent flavors."